National Republican., 1887-02-10
One Hundred and Fourteen outrages.

inevitable.
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One Hundred and Fourteen outrages.
1t is wise for the administration to con-
slider the Canadian outrages upon our
fishermen with great care and earnestness,
because the time is approaching with start
ling swiftness when solemn and sudden
halt must be called, backed by the power
and majesty Of the republic.
When Secretary Bayard transmitted to
the Senate list Of forty.seven cases where
violence had been inflicted upon our fish.
ing interests the country was amazed that
so many outrages had been committed,
and marveled still more that the wrongs,
instead Of having been redressed, were not
only justified by the Canadian authorities,
but that the colonial government was sus.
tanned by her maiesty's advisers in London.
But scarcely has the shock Of this astonlsh-
ment passed away when the country is in.
formed by the most reliable authority that
aside from the forty-seven cases reported
by Secretary Bayard sixty. eight other out.
RACES have been committed as shifting and
shameful as those mentioned by the De.
partment Of State, and in some instances
far more brutal. The following letter ex-
plains itself, and will be read with more
than common interest:
UNITED STATES COMMISSION or FISH ASD
FISHERIES, WASHINGTON, ID. o., Feb. 8, 1857
Sir! Some time since, at your request,
mailed circulars TO owners or agents of all New
England vessels employed In the foo l.flsh
fisheries. These called tor full statistics of the
vessels operations during the year 1886. aud
in addition, for statements of any incon-
veniences TO which the vessels had been sub
lectcl by the recent action OF the Cana lluu
government in denying TO American fishing
yestcls the righ, to buy bait, ice, or other sup
plies inits rorts, or IN placing unusual restric
tions on the use OF its harbors for shelter.
A very large percentage ofthertplics to these
circulars have already been received, and ar
examination of same shows that, in addition
to the vessels mentioned in the revised list
transmitted by the Secretary of State to the
committee on foreign relations of the United
States Senate on Jan. 90, 1857, sixty-elght Other
New England fishing vessels have been sub
jccted to treatment which neither the trely
Of lSiS nor the principles Of international lGw
would seem TO warrant.
inclo'e for your consideration a list these
vessels, together With brief abstract of the
statements of the owners or masters regarding
the treatment received. The statements were
not accompanied by ailidavits, but are believed
to he entirely reliable. The name and addres.
fthe informant are given in each instance
Very respectfully yours,
II. EpwARR EARLt
In Charge of Division OF Fisheries
pppr SrFNf,Tp II pIrpn
u :. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries.
Accompanying this letter is a list of the
siXty-eighJ cases referred to, giving con-
else description Of each outrage. For in
stance, the schooner Eliza A. Thomes wa;
wrecked on the Nova Scotia shore and the
crew was not permitted to land or save
anything until permission was received
from the captain of cutter. A Canadian
guard was placed over the fish saved, ant
everything secured from the wreck mar
rowly escaped conllscaton. The Helen +
Tredick entered Port Latour, Nova Scotia
for shelter and water, but was ordered i'm
mediately to sea. The Alice p. Hlggiu
was driven from harbors twice In stress
Of weather. The schooner Uncle Joe was
compelled to pay transportation for crew
from Nova Scotia to Maine, the vessel no
being allowed to call at Nova Scotll
ports for them on her way to the fshin!
| grounds. The Harry G. French was refused
permission to purchase any provisions or Il
land cargo for shipment to the Unitei
States. The Ethel Maud was pro
hibited from buying anything. Tn
collector was shown the permit, bu
declared it worthless without examination
The schooner Neponset being short of pro
visions, the master reported at the custom
house at Port Hawkesbury, c. B., aud wa
refused permission to buy. He wished t.
| see the United States consul at Port Has,
ings, some three miles distant, but the Gu;
toms officer forbade him landing at tina
port to see our official. He did so, however
and saw the consul, but could get no aid
the consul stating that If provisions wer
furnished the vessel would be seized TIL
master being III, and wishing to retur
home by rail, at the suggestion Of the cor
sui, landed secretly and Travelled throug
the woods to the station about three mil.
distant. The above statements show tn
tenor of the sixty eight outrages whic
Commissioner Baird has transmitted to th
United States Senate, in addition to IL
forty.seven cases reported from the Depar
ment of State, and now the people of tn
country will patiently wait to see some az
tion taken containing the true essence {
national grit and self-respect.
Taking now and then slight tuck in IL
A.n 90 ..t tn 1,I. Il Al.
beast and amuses the Canadians; 1t do,
not save our schooners from being hurrie
to sea without food, water, and bait, n.
from being brutally treated in case Of shi
wreck, nor does II ward off the humiliation
to which this country is constantly SUI
jected by the tyrannical treatment of oil
fishermen by the customs officials in the Il
northern ports. Certainly when our natio
OF sixty millions Of freemen can prove to
neighboring nation that 1t has committe
one htUtdred and fourteen outrages in OF
year against the rights OF our citizens an
the sentiments Of humanity, she has broa
grounds upon which to base a protest
solemn and earnest that its full and cor
plete meaning cannot be misunderstood
There will be no war with Canada In IL
settlement of this grave question, becau
should our government but raise its mailt
hand to strike blow no enemy could
found to receive the punishment. Bl
there would be a flood tide of promis
from the north Of future good deportmel
and careful consideration of our rights.
An Effort at Reform.